Microstructure and mechanical properties of Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C investment castings by current solution treatment

This study examined the impact of current solution treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C alloy investment castings.The findings reveal that the current solution treatment significantly promotes the dissolution of carbides at a lower temperature.The optimal conditions for solution treatment are determined as a solution temperature of 1,125°C and a holding time of 5.0 min.Under these parameters,the size and volume fraction of precipitated phases in the investment castings are measured as6.2μm and 1.1vol.%.The yield strength,ultimate tensile strength,and total elongation of the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C investment castings are 535 MPa,760 MPa,and 12.6%,respectively.These values exceed those obtained with the conventional solution treatment at 1,200°C for 4.0 h.The findings suggest a phase transformation of M_(23)C_(6)→σ+C following the current solution treatment at 1,125°C for 5.0 min.In comparison,the traditional solution treatment at 1,200°C for 4.0 h leads to the formation of M_(23)C_(6)and M_(6)C carbides.It is noteworthy that the non-thermal effect of the current during the solution treatment modifies the free energy of both the matrix and precipitation phase.This modification lowers the phase transition temperature of the M_(23)C_(6)→σ+C reaction,thereby facilitating the dissolution of carbides.As a result,the current solution treatment approach achieves carbide dissolution at a lower temperature and within a significantly shorter time when compared to the traditional solution treatment methods.

Moulds for investment casting, methods of making such moulds and use thereof

The manufacture by arc furnace technology of various fused metal oxides, such as for example fused zirconia, fused alumina-zirconia or brown fused and semi-friable alumina, affords furnace dusts as a byproduct. The present invention relates to investment casting moulds comprising the furnace dust, wherein said furnace dust comprises ZrO2 and/or Al2O3. The invention provides a way of recycling said furnace dusts. The present invention also provides investment casting moulds comprising a metal oxide dust comprising ZrO2 and one or more materials selected from alumina, silica and aluminosilicate, and wherein said metal oxide dust has a d50 of 10 μm or less. The invention also provides compositions for the production of investment casting moulds, the use of dusts in the formation of investment casting moulds, and the use of investment casting moulds of the invention. The investment casting moulds according to the present invention had improved or equivalent strength, and improved or better solids levels than those according to the state of the art. Furthermore, the formation process was quicker.

Digital management technology and its application to investment casting enterprises

With the advent of Industry 4.0, more and more investment casting enterprises are implementing production manufacturing systems, especially in the last two years. This paper summarizes three new common requirements of the digital management aspect in precision casting enterprises, and puts forward three corresponding techniques. They are: the production process tracking card technology based on the main-sub card mode; the workshop site production process processing technology based on the barcode; and the equipment data integration technology. Then, this paper discusses in detail the principle, application and effect of these technologies; to provide the reference for enterprises to move towards digital casting and intelligent casting.

Numerical Simulation of Solidification Process on Single Crystal Ni-Based Superalloy Investment Castings

Bridgman directional solidification of investment castings is a key technology for the production of reliable and highly efficient gas turbine blades. In this paper, a mathematical model for three-dimensional （3D） simulation of solidification process of single crystal investment castings was developed based on basic heat transfer equations. Complex heat radiation among the multiple blade castings and the furnace wall was considered in the model. Temperature distribution and temperature gradient in superalloy investment castings of single blade and multiple ones were investigated, respectively. The calculated cooling curves were compared with the experimental results and agreed well with the latter. It is indicated that the unsymmetrical temperature distribution and curved liquid-solid interface caused by the circle distribution of multiple turbine blades are probably main reasons why the stray grain and other casting defects occur in the turbine blade.

Elimination of misrun and gas hole defects of investment casting TiAl alloy turbocharger based on numerical simulation and experimental study

Casting technology of thin-wall TiAl alloy turbochargers was studied by investment casting and numerical simulation.Misruns and gas holes were the main defects observed in preliminary work due to the poor fluidity of alloy,and to gas entrapment.In order to eliminate these defects,cast parameters,such as centrifugal rotation rate and mould preheating temperature,were optimized by numerical simulation,meanwhile,the structure of the shell mould was optimized to improve the filling capacity of TiAl alloy.Pouring experiments were carried out by vacuum induction melting furnace equipped with a water-cooled copper crucible based on the above optimization.The quality of the TiAl alloy casting was analyzed by fluorescent penetrant inspection and X-ray detection.The results show that a centrifugal rotation rate of 200 rpm,mould preheating temperature of 600°C,shell preparation through organic fiber addition can dramatically improve the mould filling capacity,and integrated turbochargers were finally prepared.

Solidification Simulation of Single Crystal Investment Castings

The three dimensional solidification simulation of the single crystal investment castings at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7 mm祄in was performed with the finite element thermal analysis method. The calculated results were in accordance with the experimental ones. The results showed that with the increase of with-drawal rate the concave curvature of the liquidus isotherm was bigger and bigger and the temperature gradient of the castings decreased. No effects of withdrawal rate on the distribution of the temperature gradient of the starter and helical grain selector of the castings were observed at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7mm祄in. The relatively high temperature gradient between 500癈礳m and 1000癈礳m in the starter and helical grain selector was obtained at three withdrawal rates. The study indicates the three dimensional solidification simulation by finite element method is a powerful tool for understanding solidification and predicting defects in single crystal investment castings.

Effect of SiO_2 concentration in silica sol on interface reaction during titanium alloy investment casting

Using silica sol as a binder for titanium investment casting is very attractive due to its good stability and reasonable cost as compared with yttrium sol and zirconium sol. However, the mechanism of interface reaction in the related system remains unclear. In this investigation, the interface reaction between Y_2O_3-SiO_2(YSi) shell mold and titanium alloys was studied. A group of shell molds were prepared by using Y_2O_3 sand and silica sol with different contents of SiO_2. Ti-6Al-4V alloy was cast under vacuum by gravity casting through cold crucible induction melting(CCIM) method. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDS) were employed to characterize the micromorphology and composition of the reaction area, respectively X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was used to confirm the valence state of relevant elements. White ligh interferometer(WLI) was used to obtain the surface topography of Y-Si shells. The results show that the thickness of reaction layers is below 3 μm when the SiO_2 content of silica sol is below 20 wt.%. Whereas, when the SiO_2 content increases to 25 wt.%, the thickness of the reaction layer increases sharply to about 15 μm. There is a good balance between chemical inertness and mechanical performance when the SiO_2 content is between 15 and 20 wt.%. Moreover, it was found that the distribution of SiO_2 and the roughness at the surface of the shell are the key factors that determine the level of reaction.

Characterization of zirconia-based slurries with different binders for titanium investment casting

The materials and physical properties of primary slurry are crucial to the surface quality of the finished castings,especially for high reactivity titanium alloys.The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different binders on the physical properties of primary slurry for titanium alloy investment casting.The zirconia-based slurries with different binders were evaluated by comparing the parameters:viscosity,bulk density,plate weight, suspensibility,gel velocity and strength.The results indicate that a higher viscosity of binder leads to a higher viscosity and suspensibility of slurry with the same powder/binder ratio.The retention rate and thickness of primary layer increase with an increase in the viscosity of the slurry,and a higher retention rate is associated with a thicker primary layer.The gel velocity of the slurry is correlated with the gel velocity of the binder.The green strength and the baked strength of the primary layer are determined by the properties of the binder after gel and by the production of the binder after fired,respectively.

Effects of process parameters on dimensional precision and tensile strength of wax patterns for investment casting by selective laser sintering

Turbine blades, produced by the directional solidification(DS) process, often require high dimensional accuracy and excellent mechanical properties. A critical step in their production is the fabrication of wax patterns. However, the traditional manufacturing process has many disadvantages, such as long-term production, low material utilization rate, and the high cost of producing a complex-shaped wax pattern. Selective laser sintering(SLS) is one of the most extensively used additive manufacturing techniques that substantially shortens the production cycle. In this study, SLS was adopted to fabricate the wax pattern instead of the traditional manufacturing process. The orthogonal experiment method was carried out to investigate the effects of laser power, scanning speed, scanning space, and layer thickness on the dimensional precision and morphologies of the SLS parts. The SLS parts showed a minimum dimensional deviation when laser power, scanning speed, scanning space, and layer thickness were 10 W, 3000 mm·s-1, 0.18 mm, and 0.25 mm, respectively. In addition, the tensile strength and fracture morphologies were closely associated with the laser volumetric energy density(VED). The tensile strength reached a maximum when the VED was 0.0762 J·mm-3, with an evident brittle fracture morphology. The wax pattern manufactured in this way meets the accuracy and strength requirements for investment casting. This research offers a novel path for the production of wax patterns for complex-shaped turbine blades by SLS.

Optimization of investment casting process for K477 superalloy aero-engine turbine nozzle by simulation and experiment

In order to reduce the shrinkage porosity of nickel-based superalloy castings in the investment casting process,the effects of different gating systems on mold filling,solidification process,and prediction of shrinkage porosity of aero-engine turbine nozzle castings were investigated by simulation and experimental methods.Results show that the design of the vertical runner would cause greater turbulence of the melt in the riser during the mold filling process,and the outer runner is not necessary.With the decrease in number of runners,the hot spot moves down towards the casting,and the shrinkage and porosity defects are formed in the casting below the riser.In the original designs,a certain tendency of shrinkage and porosity defect is found in the vanes,inner rings,and outer rings of the castings by both simulation prediction and experiment.Finally,based on the processing optimization,the aero-engine turbine nozzle casting with no shrinkage and porosity defects is obtained.

Micro precision casting based on investment casting for micro structures with high aspect ratio

Microcasting is one of the significant technologies for the production of metallic micro parts with high aspect ratio(ratio of flow length to diameter).A micro precision casting technology based on investment casting using centrifugal method was investigated.The micro parts of Zn-4%Al alloy with an aspect ratio up to 200 was produced at the centrifugal speed of 1 500 r/min and the mold temperature of 270℃.The investigations on the relationship between flow length and rotational speed were carried out. For microcasting,the flow length is not only dependent on the centrifugal speed under the constant centrifugal radius,but also on the preheating temperature of mold.The flow length increases as the rotational speed and the mold temperature increase,and is much higher at a mold temperature of 270 ℃thanat other mold temperatures.

Bending strength and fracture surface topography of natural fiber-reinforced shell for investment casting process

In order to improve the properties of silica sol shell for investment casting process, various contents of cattail fibers were added into the slurry to prepare a fiber-reinforced shell in the present study. The bending strength of fiber-reinforced shell was investigated and the fracture surfaces of shell specimens were observed using SEM. It is found that the bending strength increases with the increase of fiber content, and the bending strength of a green shell with 1.0 wt.% fiber addition increases by 44% compared to the fiber-free shell. The failure of specimens of the fiber-reinforced green shell results from fiber rupture and debonding between the interface of fibers and adhesive under the bending load. The micro-crack propagation in the matrix is inhibited by the micro-holes for ablation of f ibers in specimens of the f iber-reinforced shell during the stage of being fired. As a result, the bending strength of specimens of the fired shell had no significant drop. Particularly, the bending strength of specimens of the fired shell reinforced with 0.6wt.% fiber reached the maximum value of 4.6 MPa.

Properties of fiber reinforced plaster molds for investment casting

In order to improve the performance of plaster molds for investment casting,a diverse content of glass fiber and polypropylene(PP)fiber was incorporated into the slurry for the preparation of a fiber-reinforced mold.The green and fired bending strengths,thermal expansion properties,permeability,and thermal shock resistance of the mold were examined,and the scanning electron microscope(SEM)with energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS)was applied for the observation of fracture morphology.With appropriate content,the introduction of glass fiber was proved to increase the green bending strength and fired bending strength,restrain the thermal expansion and improve the thermal shock resistance of the mold,while the polypropylene fiber added was able to raise the green bending strength and the permeability,reduce the thermal expansion and heighten the thermal shock resistance as well,though the fired bending strength would be weakened slightly.Evenly distributed fibers were capable of enhancing the mechanical properties of the matrix,but agglomerations and bundles of fibers resulting from excessive addition had a negative impact.Meanwhile,it was also manifested that micropores left by ablative polypropylene fibers could improve the permeability and reduce the thermal expansion of the mold,and the fired bending strength would be decreased slightly by the deterioration of continuous structure.Three different ratios of hybrid fiber were employed in plaster molds,which can meet altered requirement of castings.The samples modified with hybrid fiber possessed lower thermal deformation,higher air permeability,and better resistance of thermal shock,while the mechanical strength was equal to the fiber free sample or slightly increased.

CA Investment Casting Process of Complex Castings

CA (Computer aided) investment casting technique used in superalloy castings of aerospace engine parts was presented. CA investment casting integrated computer application, RP (Rapid Prototyping) process, solidification simulation and investment casting process. It broke the bottle neck of making metal die. Solid model of complex parts were produced by UGII or other software, then translated into STL(Stereolithography) file, after RP process of SLS(Selective Laser Sintering), wax pattern used in investment casting can be acquired without metal die in short time. These can reduce period and cost greatly of complex superalloy parts development of engine. The key processes of CA investment casting were discussed. The accuracy of model translation should match that of RP system. Choice of RP material, surface polishing, sintering parameter plays important role in RP process. Other processes, like solidification simulating and optimization of gate system were introduced. The conclusion was that complex parts can be produced by CA investment casting with lots of advantages. The accuracy of castings can reach CT5～7,and the smoothness can get Ra3～13 mm. These parts of engines worked well.

Application of transparent casting moulds prepared by additive manufacturing technology in hydraulic simulation

Hydraulic simulation is one of the critical methods to research the filling mechanism of molten metal in the casting process.However,it only performs on test pieces with relatively simple structures due to the limitation of the preparation method.In this study,the method of photocuring additive manufacturing was used to prepare the complex casting mould from transparent photosensitive resin.The pouring test was carried out under different centrifugal conditions,and the filling process of the gating system,support bars and other positions in the vertical direction was recorded and analyzed.The experimental results show that the internal liquid level and the filling process of the test piece prepared by this method can be observed clearly.The angle between the liquid surface and the horizontal plane in the test piece gradually increases as the centrifugal rotational speed increases,which means the filling process is carried out from outside to inside at high rotational speed.The velocity of the fluid entering the runner increases with the increase of rotational speed,but the filling speeds is less affected by the centrifugal speed at other positions.The liquid flow is continuous and stable during the forward filling process,without splashing or interruption of liquid droplets.

Effects of Ag,Co,and Ge additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of Be-Al alloy fabricated by investment casting

The effects of Ag,Co,and Ge additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of Be-35Al(wt.%)alloys fabricated by investment casting were studied.The results reveal that the trace metals 1.5wt.%Ag,0.7wt.%Co,and 0.8wt.%Ge additions do not change the nucleation temperature of Be phase.However,the nucleation temperature of the Al phase decreases from 642℃ to 630℃ by DSC due to the Ge addition.The strength of the alloys sharply increases due to the dissolution of the Ag and Ge solutes into the Al phase and the Co into the Be phase characterized by SEM and EDS.Obviously,the strength of Be-Al-Ag-Co-Ge alloy is improved by the solution strengthening.Furthermore,a few Ag_(3) Al particles contribute to the strength of the Al phase.Be-Fe-Al ternary intermetallic compounds which can effectively reduce the negative effect of an impurity element Fe on the mechanical properties of Be-Al alloys are also found by XRD and EDS.

Experimental study on separation of valuable refractory aggregate from investment casting ceramic shell waste

In the present study, a processing technique for recycling investment casting ceramic shell waste was proposed to separate valuable refractory aggregate zircon sand. The microstructure and phase constituents of the shell waste and separation process were investigated. The results show that the characteristics of microstructure and phase constituents of the shell waste can meet the conditions for preferential y separating zircon sand, and zircon sand can be separated by gravity separation on a shaking table. The separated zircon sand has good shape and high purity, and can be used for the production of castings and other applications.

Development of open-porosity magnesium foam produced by investment casting

High-porosity,open-cell AZ91 magnesium alloy foams of two pore sizes were fabricated by means of investment casting technology,using PUR foam patterns.Foam casting variables such as pressure,mould temperature and metal pouring temperature were thoroughly investigated to define the most optimal casting conditions.The mechanical properties of the fabricated foams were measured in compression tests.A potential application for the foams considered is temporary bioresorbable bone implants,therefore the mechanical properties of the foams were compared with those of cancellous bone tissue.Foams with smaller pore size and lower porosity(20 PPI and 80%±87%)exhibited mechanical properties in the lower regions of the cancellous bone property range(Young’s modulus 36.5±77.5 MPa),while foams with higher pore size and porosity(10 PPI and~90%)were found to have insufficient compression strength(Young’s modulus 11.65±23.8),but thickening their walls and lowering their porosity below 90%yielded foams with Young’s modulus between 36.5 and 77.5 MPa.Foam fractures were also investigated to determine their collapse mechanism.A series of corrosion tests in stimulated body fluid was carried out to determine their applicability as a biomaterial.The Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation(PEO)process was used in a feasibility study to examine the microstructure and chemical composition of foams with protective coating.

A Research on Investment Casting Technology of Ti Alloys

In this research, the materials and the compositions of the surface slurries were chosen by considering the characteristics of Ti investment casting. The effects of solid-liquid ratios on the properties of the slurry and the effects of baking temperatures on the flexural strength have also been investigated. Flawless shells having smooth inner surface were manufactured with proper technology. Ti and its alloys were melted and poured by water-cooled Cu crucible vacuum induction furnace. The qualities of the investment castings made accordingly were studied and analyzed.

Improvement in collapsibility of ZrO2 ceramic mould for investment casting of TiAl alloys

Investment casting has been widely recognized as the best option in producing TiAl components with key benefits of accuracy,versatility and integrity.The collapsibility of ceramic moulds for investment casting is critical in the manufacturing process of TiAl components due to TiAl's intrinsic brittleness at room temperature.The aim of the present research is to provide a method for production of TiAl components by investment casting in ZrO2 ceramic moulds with improved collapsibility.Slurries prepared with high polymer additions were utilized during the preparation of ceramic moulds.The stress/strain curves obtained from green and baked ceramic moulds demonstrate that the green strength was increased with the application of high polymer,while baked strength decreased,thus the collapsibility of ceramic moulds was improved.It is suggested that this result is related to the burn-out of high polymer which left a lot of cavities.The experimental findings were also verified by the investment casting of "I"-shaped TiAl components.